Dive Brief:
- A federal judge in Oregon denied two alfalfa farmers' attempts to overturn a GMO ban that would force them to remove about 300 acres of herbicide-resistant crops. They said this caused them "undue financial hardship and violated their constitutional rights" and that they should be protected under the "right to farm" statute, The Oregonian reported.
- According to The Oregonian, the judge said that, "The 'right to farm' measure prohibits ordinances and lawsuits that treat a common farming practice as a trespass or nuisance, but the law does not protect activities that harm commercial agriculture."
- The ban may now go into effect June 5.
Dive Insight:
Cross-pollination between GMO and organic crops is a growing concern for organic farmers, and this case is one example of a win for those farmers. The wind can carry GMO-laced pollen that can contaminate the organic crops and technically make them no longer GMO-free. This can be a detriment to the organic farmers' efforts and livelihood should their crops be denied certification and sales.
The Oregon alfalfa farmers in the case also feel they deserve appropriate compensation for their crops, and this matter has not yet been rejected by the courts.